ic inbox (kenos)

[gravings]

I will definitely put something here this time

Comments

[lockedon]

[ The way he opened his (mind) mouth automatically and then had to close it before he could ask her if she could talk to dogs for him.

Instead, he says the much more restrained and mature thing of: ]

I'll let you know.

[ Anyway. ]

Do you like the Meridian? [ ... ] Do you have many friends there?

[gravings]

I don't know if I particularly like or dislike them. I think I understand their hopes... but I don't know if they're very realistic.

[ What a ringing endorsement... ]

I do have Mr. Johnny. Um... I'm not sure if I'm friends with Miss Hayame.

[lockedon]

[ The image of Gray standing next to Hayame is so jarring that he can't help but blink a few times in surprise. Truly, Gray is just bowling him over with all sorts of news today. ]

I didn't realize Hayame was capable of making friends.

[ Or even talking to someone without insulting them immediately. ]

[gravings]

[ Like. Gray doesn't disagree? ]

She said that I have drawing skill... and she let me eat with her.

[ Friendship??????? ]

[lockedon]

[ Damn, maybe that is friendship for Hayame...... It takes him another few seconds to shake off the surprise. ]

That's kind of her.

[ Shockingly so, in fact. ]

Are Johnny and Hayame the ones you spend most of your time around?

[gravings]

[ And so Gray remains happily oblivious to Hayame and Eustace's history... ]

Oh, no. I don't spend that much time with them. I'm usually by myself... with Add, of course. So if you ever need me...

[ She's here!! Available!! ]

1/2

[lockedon]

[ By herself......that's so sad. ]

[lockedon]

[ Wait a minute. ]

With Add?

[gravings]

Ah. Have I not introduced you...?

[ It's hard to keep track of who remembers what nowadays. ]

He's a little hard to explain, but he's my friend from home. Do you want to see him?

[lockedon]

[ Hard to explain, huh? ]

Would it be easier if I met him in person?

[gravings]

I think so.

[ Regrets may be had considering Add's personality, but at the same time, he is her best friend. It would be good for Eustace to know about him. She'll just have to emphasize with Add that he should be polite... ]

Would you like to have tea? I'll bring him along.

[lockedon]

[ Truly the mystery of this 'Add' grows.... ]

Tea is fine. Name a place and I'll be there.

[ Wherever she's living...a teahouse...the middle of a park?? It's all good. ]

1/2

[gravings]

[ She names a place that is a quiet little cafe that specializes in tea, because being Harmonized means Gray has pocket change to spare again.

After the usual quiet but happy greeting from Gray, and after they're seated and tea and snacks are on the way, she unhooks Add's cage from its holster beneath her cloak and gently places it on the table. Inside the cage, Add beams up at Eustace with all the impish energy an elaborate talking box could hope to muster. ]

This is Add.

2/2

[gravings]

[ When Add speaks up, his voice is easily twice the volume and kick of Gray's voice. ]

Ihihihi! Hey there, Wolfman! Thanks for taking care of Gray! Take good care of me too, won'tcha?!

[lockedon]

[ A talking box.

Not the strangest thing he's encountered in his life - maybe it's some sort of little robot, like Raybury? - but still plenty strange, and he can't help but lean back half a centimetere when that raucous voice hits his ears.

At least it's not being downright rude to him (yet), not moreso than anyone else has been. ]

Do you need taking care of?

[ It's just a little box? Can it really get hurt?? ]

1/2

[gravings]

[ Add's voice drops to a sly bid for confidence, hopping in his boxy way to lean toward Eustace within the confines of his cage. ]

Well, y'know. It ain't the normal things I'm worried about. The one with the violent streak is Gray over there! She may look innocent, but one wrong word—

2/2

[gravings]

[ A hand closes firmly over the top of his cage. ]

Add.

[ Gray chastises him, her voice stern with many years of practice, but the pressure on his cage was already enough to make him clam up with a cowed look. She lets go of his cage then and looks back to Eustace. ]

He's very sturdy. He's probably one of the sturdiest things I know of... so when he gets out of line, please feel free to give him a shake.

[ Add lets out a little, "Ah," and peers up at Eustace with puppy box eyes. ]

[lockedon]

[ Alas, Eustace is immune to puppy eyes when they're not coming from an actual dog…..

Add goes ignored in favor of Gray, who gets a slightly more amused look this time around. Her behavior around her little box friend is so much more assertive than usual; it's clear that the two of them have been around for a long time now. ]

You seem to have that covered.

[ He will leave the box shaking to pro box shaker Gray. ]

Do you actually have a violent streak?

[ The light tone of voice seems to imply he doesn't really believe that, but hey if she wants to confirm he's all ears. ]

1/2

[gravings]

[ Gray sits up as if poked in the side, blindsided by his ACCUSATION. It's actually more like he's teasing her, but she doesn't recognize teasing from serious Mr. Eustace. ]

A-A violent streak? No, I don't think... I mean, not any more than necessary...

[ Add cackles as she stutters, and normally this would be her cue to administer punishment, but that would just be proving him right. So she sits there, not knowing how she should respond to worm her way out of this trap, reddening as she feels Eustace's (imagined) scrutiny. The seconds pass by; her mortification piles on... ]

2/2

[gravings]

[ Finally, she silently takes Add's cage from its ring and rises from the table. Add's laughing cuts off immediately, turning into protests which that get more panicked as Gray steps out of the cafe and away from Eustace's eyeshot.

After a pause, he'll hear a sudden (violent) rattling of a birdcage and Add's pitiful wailing as Gray shakes them both like she's trying to call the cows in from a mile away. Eustace is free to relax and enjoy the tea and snacks that arrive while she's away. Gray has a limit, good impressions be damned. ]

communion ; a few days after returning from the scorching isles

[epiprocta]

[ Why can't Gray get more communions from nice people who will give her cute interactions ........

Instead, one day around noon finds her getting the mental equivalent of a nudge from Gen. At least this one doesn't feel as hurried or insistent as last time, more of a hand patting at her shoulder than an elbow digging into her side. And when she decides to answer it, Gen speaks promptly, not to offer a 'hey' or a 'how are you doing,' but instead: ]

I got a job. You should tag along. [ He's a shithead so of course he doesn't ask her for her help. No, instead, he's just, like, declaring that she should accompany him. Horrible. ] You're not busy, right.

[gravings]

[ Gray's metaphysical ears perk up at the word "job" like she's hearing it from her deadbeat son. Immediately, she feels a glimmer of hope for his progression toward becoming a responsible adult, though she feels a second later that she is probably wrong about that.

Her first impulse is to agree right away, especially because her tagging along means she'll be able to make sure he's safe, but she pauses as she considers her schedule. ]

I want to come, but right now I'm not in the city... Um, when is your job? I'll make sure to be there.

[ The authorities that be can wait, probably. ]

[epiprocta]

[ wOW gray, the way he'd be so fucking offended if he knew this was her feelings about him??? he's many shitty things but he's at least always been prepared to work when he has to, okay

Regardless, there's a brief pause and a little blip of confusion at her answer -- the psychic equivalent of a blink and a cant of the head. He genuinely hadn't expected her to have anything else on her plate. ]

Not like there's a fixed date. And it's not in the city. I'm heading to the World's Edge, so I can just meet you there whenever. There's some good money in it for you, probably.

[ Another little pause. And then, since he's not the type to beat around the bush: ]

What're you wandering out so far for.

[gravings]

[ "when he has to" tho

Exploring mysterious new places is right in her wheelhouse, so Gen will get a pleasant little blip once he's explained the mission. She wants to ask who's paying them exactly, but he's already moving on. ]

I'm on... a secret mission.

[ She isn't trying to sound like a chuuni, it's just in her blood... ]

I think it's okay if I share with you, though. I've been asked to do some things in Alenroux.

[epiprocta]

[ Sorry Gray. It's not even like he's adverse to explaining their potential job to her, but in the moment he's more distracted by -- ]

... a secret mission.

[ He can't help sounding a little dry as he parrots those words, very obviously making an unspoken statement about how chuuni that sounds. But he can prod her about that embarrassing wording later; for now, he'll prioritize more useful information, giving a small huff before continuing. ]

You can tell me if you want, but don't bother if it'd get you in trouble. [ He understands the importance of secrecy, after all. ] Well ... not that I have anyone I'd go squealing to, though.